Browsing by Author "Hettiarachchi, N.M."

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Adverse events following COVISHIELD (ChAdOx1nCoV-19) vaccination among health care workers in Sri Lanka; a multi-centre cross sectional survey
(Sri Lanka College of Internal Medicine, 2022) Manilgama, S.R.; Hettiarachchi, N.M.; Jayasinghe, I.K.; de Silva, S.T.; Jayalath, T.; Wanigaratne, T.; Bandusiri, R.P.; Suganthan, N.; Sudarshan, P.; Pathirage, M.; Rajaratnam, N.; Senaratne, G.; Rajapaksha, V.; Wickramasinghe, A.; Ranaweera, S.P.A.L.; Thilakarathna, H.M.A.; Kulaweera, M.T.D.
Introduction: A community vaccination programme is the best approach to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Post-vaccine surveillance is important to identify adverse events (AE) following COVID-19 vaccination in the population. Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional survey was conducted in six provinces to estimate the prevalence of AE following the first dose of COVISHIELD (ChAdOx1nCoV-19) among all categories of health care workers (HCWs). A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather demographic data and AE. Results: Of 5140 participants 67.8% were females. The mean (SD) age was 40.69 (±9.85) years. At least one comorbidity was reported in 15.4%. At least one AE was reported in 86.6% and 49.3% had local AE. Fever (67.2%), headaches (57.3%), body aches (54.4%), chills (51.2%), fatigue (37.5%) and arthralgia (36%) were the most reported systemic AE. The majority of AE lasted less than 24 hours. Pain and redness at the site were the most reported local AE. Mean duration of onset of fever and pain at injection site from the time of the vaccination was 6.65 and 9.67 hours respectively. When participants were divided into two groups by mean age (≤40 and >40 years) and parameters were compared, most systemic (fever, nausea, fatigue, itching) and all local AE were significantly more prevalent in the ≤40 age group. Two percent had reactions within the first 20 minutes. Anaphylaxis developed in 12 participants. Past history of anaphylaxis, drug or food allergy were reported in 0.6%, 2.8% and 6.7% respectively. However, previous history of allergy was not significantly related to immediate reactions or anaphylaxis following vaccination. Despite having minor AE, 71.1% attended routine work while 0.2% required hospitalisation. Conclusions: While 86.6% reported minor AE, only a few serious AE were reported. Overall, the first dose of the vaccine was well-tolerated by HCWs.
Adverse events following first dose of ChAdOxI nCoV-19 (Covishield) among health care workers in Sri Lanka
(Sri Lanka College of Internal Medicine, 2021) Manilgama, S.R.; Hettiarachchi, N.M.; Jayasinghe, I.K.; de Silva, S.; Jayalath, T.; Wanigaratne, T.; Bandusiri, R.P.; Suganthan, N.; Sudarshan, P.; Pathirage, M.; Rajaratnam, N.; Senaratne, G.; Rajapaksha, V.; Wickramasinghe, A.; Kulaweera, M.T.D.
Introduction: A community vaccination programme is crucial to combat COVID-19 pandemic. An independent post-vaccine surveillance is important to identify adverse events following immunization (AEFI) in the population. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of AEFI after covishield vaccination among all categories of health care workers (HCWs) after the first dose. Methods: A multicentred cross-sectional survey was conducted in six provinces. A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather demographic data and AEFI. Results: Of 5140, 67.8% were females. The mean (SD) age was 40.69 (±10.07) years. At least one comorbidity was reported in 15.4%, At least one AEFI was reported in 86.6% and 49.3% had local AEFI. Bodyaches(54.4%), headaches (57.3%), fever (58.4%), chills(51.2%)( fatigue(37.5%) and arthralgia (36%) were the most reported systemic AEFI. Majority lasted <24 hours. Pain and redness at the site were the most reported local AEFI. Mean duration of onset of fever and site of pain was 6.65 and 9.67 hours respectively. The population was divided into two groups according to the mean age; <40 and >40 years and, study parameters were compared. Most of the systemic (fever, nausea, fatigue, itching) and all local AEFI were significantly higher among the <40-year-old group. Reactions occurred within first 20 minutes in 2%. Anaphylaxes developed in 12 patients. History of an叩hylaxis, drug, or food allergies were reported in 0.6%, 2.8%, 6.7% respectively, they didn't show significant relation to current vaccine induced allergies or anaphylaxis. Despite having minor AEFI, 71.1% attended routine work while 0.2% were hospitalised and treated.
Prevalence of covishield COVID-19 vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) adverse effects among health care workers in Sri Lanka
(Elsevier, 2022) Manilgama, S.R.; Hettiarachchi, N.M.; Jayasinghe, K.I.; de Silva, S.; Wanigaratne, T.; Jayalath, T.; Bandusiri, R.P.; Suganthan, N.; Sudarshan, P.; Pathirage, M.; Rajaratnam, N.; Senaratne, G.; Rajapaksha, V.; Wickramasinghe, A.; Kulaweera, M.T.D.
PURPOSEA Community vaccination programme is the best approach to combat COVID-19 pandemic. The first priority was given to the health care workers (HCWs) with the introduction of Indian Covishield (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) vaccine to Sri Lanka since February 2021. An independent post-vaccine surveillance is important to identify the occurrence of adverse effects(A/E) in the population. METHODS & MATERIALSA multicentered cross-sectional survey was conducted in four provinces of Sri Lanka to estimate the prevalence of A/E after covishield vaccination A/E among HCWs after the first dose. A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather demographic data and A/E. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS Of 4834 participants, 3500(72.4%) were females. The median age was 42.23(SD±9.64) years. Only 0.8%(n=31) persons has had Covid infection in the past. 2.2% were breastfeeding mothers and 0.2% were pregnant ladies.87.4% of persons had at least one A/E and 53.1% had local A/E. Body aches(68.2%), headaches(63.8%), fever(58%), chills 51.4%), fatigue(41.2%), arthralgia(38.1%) and rigors (32%) were the most commonly reported systemic A/E. Most of the systemic A/E were more prevalent among the ≤42-year-old group, and females. Their duration was mainly 24 hours. Mean duration of onset of fever is 9.76 hours. Pain and redness at the site were the most commonly reported local A/E. All of the local A/E were more prevalent among the ≤42-year-old group and females. Mean duration of pain at the site is 4.47 hours. 1.7%(n=61) had reactions within first 20 minutes. 0.08%(n=4) developed anaphylaxis, 0.8%(n=31) had urticaria. 15.4% had at least one comorbidities but there were no significant association between having a comorbidity and developing systemic or local. 1.3% had history of drug or food allergies, they did not show significant relation to current vaccine induced allergies or anaphylaxis. 69.2% attended the routine work despite having minor A/E. 0.13%(n=7) were hospitalised and treated. 22.4% were stayed at home and rested for 24-48 hours due to A/E. CONCLUSION Eventhough more than 60% reported minor A/E, there were only a few serious A/E. A/E were more prevalent in younger age and females. Overall, the first dose of the Covishield vaccine was well-tolerated by HCWs.